PHILADELPHIA – The plan essentially involved providing a security blanket.
In times of adversity, the quest for more stability and consistency calls for less from the Grizzlies when it comes to coach Taylor Jenkins’ primary rotations.
After regrouping from a pair of stinging home losses with Thursday’s blowout victory over the Bucks, the Grizzlies will now try to build on a key coaching adjustment to sustain success.
It requires keeping Ja Morant and/or Jaren Jackson Jr. on the court at all times.
Well, not all 48 minutes.
But in Thursday’s 23-point win over Milwaukee, there were only a handful of meaningful possessions when the Grizzlies didn’t have either of their two most impactful players on the court. The formula of opening games with Morant and Jackson in their normal starting roles, then alternating stages when they are substituted out for rest – ensuring at least one of the two catalysts are always in the game – proved successful Thursday.
And it’s likely going to be a mainstay to help stabilize the Grizzlies until a few key rotation players return from early season injuries.
“We definitely had to adjust our rotations,” Jenkins asserted amid a turbulent start to the season. “We switched up Ja’s and Jaren’s stints, going a little bit longer since we knew we were going to need them (longer stretches). This has been six games in nine days . . . at a great pace.”
It’s been a delicate juggling act for the Grizzlies (3-3), who begin a two-game trip to face the Sixers on Saturday and the Nets on Monday. The combination of a hectic early schedule, recent injuries to two more key rotation players and the fact both Morant and Jackson were coming off injuries of their own have contributed to a challenging first two weeks of the season.
The Grizzlies are likely to be without Desmond Bane (oblique strain) and Marcus Smart (ankle sprain) for the next stretch of games after both were injured Wednesday against the Nets. The team had already been cautious not to overload Morant and Jackson too soon in the season.
The fact Morant and Jackson played both games Wednesday and Thursday with impressive outings suggests they’ve progressed in their health and conditioning. It also reveals Jenkins, the medical staff and front office are seeing encouraging results to increase their workloads.
After expressing some displeasure with the injury and recovery process coming off consecutive losses, Morant posted a triple-double with 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes Thursday. A night earlier, Jackson led Memphis with 30 points and three steals in 28 minutes.
During a dominant first half against the Bucks, there were only two possessions when Morant and Jackson were not on the floor for the Grizzlies. The only other stretch when Jenkins didn’t have one or both in the game came in the final minutes as Memphis cleared its bench.
That approach was in contrast to Wednesday’s setback against the Nets. Neither Morant nor Jackson was on the court midway through the fourth quarter during a stretch when the Grizzlies fell behind by double figures and never overcame that deficit rest of the way.
Morant saw a different level of confidence in how role players and the bench responded to the rotating shifts he shared with Jackson. It resulted in a balanced effort that saw seven Grizzlies players score in double figures against the Bucks.
That included a double-double from forward Jake LaRavia, who had 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Memphis was a plus-30 when LaRavia was on the court with lineups that included Morant, who was a plus-29 against the Bucks. Rookie swingman Jaylen Wells scored 16 points and contributed seven rebounds and solid perimeter defense in his first career start.
Another recent rotation tweak has seen backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. come off the bench to initially play alongside Morant late in first quarters. When Morant goes to the bench, Pippen takes over as the facilitator while Jackson remains in to help steady the reserves.
“Those guys look up to us, and you know we’re pretty much the engine that runs the team,” Morant said. “So, seeing one of us out there on the floor is a good thing. But I don’t think they lack confidence if we’re not. We want to instill confidence no matter what and play the same way no matter who’s out there. We’ve had that – at least one of us on the floor, and it works.”
Teammates insist the presence of Morant and Jackson provide a calming influence.
“They set a tone, picking it up on both ends, and I think we did a good job keeping at it throughout the game,” forward Santi Aldama conveyed. “That’s kind of what we want to do. So, we followed the game plan and just executed it.”
Jackson understands it’s all part of the night-to-night nature of the NBA.
Face a challenge one night.
Take inventory, adjust and conquer it the next.
“You can’t panic ever,” Jackson pointed out as the Grizzlies continue to find their footing early in the season. “When there’s panic, it just makes anything worse. You just stay calm and work on whatever you have to do. You put in your work. We just do the stuff you’ve heard a ton of times from everybody in here with us, from coach and the organization.”
There’s another equation in the formula for sustainable success.
“When we come in with the right energy and vibes are good,” Pippen assured, “we get wins.”
The reliable presence of Morant and/or Jackson in all rotations helps pave the way.